Part 2
1. Describe a subject you used to dislike but now have interest in
You should say:
What the subject is
Why you disliked it
What you are interested in now
And explain why you become interested in it
Sample answer:
Talking about a subject I used to dislike but now have interest in, history pops into my mind immediately.
At present, I am an undergraduate student of a prestigious university in Beijing and doing very well with my academic studies. But back in high school, history was the most irritating subject for me. The first reason that I didn’t like it was the history teacher. He was an old and strict person. Another thing was that History was tougher than any other subjects cos you had to learn it by rote. The most terrible thing was memorizing useless facts about the historical events such as dates, names and places in order to write the exam paper. Actually, none of us were attentive at this course and consequently had to cram for and struggle during the examinations. As a result, I didn’t get high marks in history.
However, I am fascinated by everything about Tang dynasty now. The reason is that I’m obsessed with a very famous TV drama called The Longest Day in Chang’an right now. This TV series are set in Chang’an which was the cosmopolitan of the Tang Empire. The plot is about an attack planned by the remnants of a vanquished central Asian kingdom after infiltrating the world’s largest city during the Lantern Festival while the court is fraught with infighting. After watching it, I begin to care more about history and even find some resources to learn it on my own. Through reading these books, I get more information about the development of tax system, some philosophical thoughts in the mid-Tang and the influence of the classical prose writing. I think it’s very meaningful for us to acquire some knowledge about the past.
Tang was the most brilliant dynasty in Chinese history for its prosperous economy, vigorous culture, powerful strength and high international status. Tang accomplished splendid achievements in the areas of politics, economy, military affairs, culture, and foreign relations. In its early years, it enjoyed harmonious unification, powerful national strength, and vast territories. People enjoyed their contented and comfortable life. I can also learn lessons from the mistakes made by our ancestors. So I would like to read books about Chinese ancient history in my spare time, especially Tang Dynasty.
2. Describe the last book that you read
You should say:
What it is about
When you read it
Why you read it
And explain what you like and dislike
Sample answer:
Well, I have just finished reading a book about cooking, which is by every measure the best cooking book I’ve come across. Actually, it is a publication that focuses on high-quality popular food. Truth be told, I can’t remember exactly when I got to know it for the first time probably it was highly recommended by one of my friends, coz there was a time I decided to learn how to cook by myself, and I happened to see it coincidently at a friend’s home. Anyway, I decided to read this book to improve my cooking skills.
Unlike those whose recipes were beyond what I could cook in my home kitchen, this one was the winner. I mean, it’s jam packed with great recipes that I could make at home with no troubles. So, it’s quite fair to say that this book is a truly informative companion for amateur cooks and foodies alike.
And basically there is a combination of reasons why I like to read it. For starters, this book helps me maintain a healthy lifestyle by providing delicious low-calorie recipes and tips. Each one in the magazine is tested to ensure that it will come out just the way I want. On top of that, these highly-reliable recipes are explained with detailed photographs which enable me to grasp the picture and follow the steps easily.
Since it was a book without certain videos to show all the steps of cooking, I sometimes have difficulties to judge whether certain materials are well-cooked. As the result, I failed to make some dishes I really want to cook for my family members. I expect the author would add some videos as teaching materials to make reader have a better understanding to certain steps.
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